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Chennai |
Mamallapuram
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Kanchipuram
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Tiruvanamalai
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Chidambaram
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Kumbakonam |
Thanjavor |
Tiruchinapalli
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Madurai |
Rameshwaram
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Kanyakumari
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Ooty |
Kodaikanal |
Coimbatore |
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This busy capital of
the chola kings, nestled along the Kaveri River is some 37 kms
northeast of thanjavur. It is noted for its many temples with their
colourful and beautiful sculptures and intricate carvings. The most
important temples are the sarangapani, kumbeshwara and nageshwara
temples. One in 12 years, kumbakonam celebrates the mahamagam
festival and thousand of devotees flock here with a belief that a
dip in the tank will wash all their sins.
Named from the legend where shiva was said to have broken a kumbh (
water pot) after it was brought here by a great flood, the water
from the pot is reputed to have filled the mahamagam tank.
Places of attraction :-
Dharasuram (30 kms):
The small town of dharasuram is 4 kms west of kumbakonam. The
airateshwara temple, built by raja chola 11 is an excellent example
of 12th century chola architecture. The archaeological survey of
India has restored the temple. The temple is fronted by columns with
unique miniature sculptures. In the 14th century, the row of large
statues around the temple was replaced with brick and concrete
statues. At the main shrine, a huge decorated lingam stands, the
natural light illuminating it from sunrise to sunset.
Gangaikondacholapuram:
Once the capital of the chola king rajendra, the town of
gangaikondacholapuram (meaning ‘the city of the chola who conquered
the Ganga’) has now all but disappeared. The temple and the 5 kms
long 11th century reservoir embankment survive.
The gopurams of this enormous temple, 35 kms north of kumbakonam,
dominate the surrounding landscape. It was built by the chola
emperor, rajendra I( 1012-44) in the style of the brihadishwara
temple and is dedicated to shiva. Many beautiful sculptures adorn
the walls of the temple and its enclosures. The ornate tower is
almost 55 mts high and is said to weigh 80 tonnes. Within the
recesses of the temple walls stand many beautiful statues, including
those of ganesh, nataraja and harihara.
Next to the temple there is a small museum ( closed Friday ), which
exhibits the excavated remains of the palace that once existed
nearby. |
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